26/11/2025
This is an article about Brighton Sundae that appeared in The Brightonian in June.
Dance all the way til teatime at Brighton Sundae
“Music is a healing force. I know community is a big buzz word and lots of big brands are using it too, but small independent events like this are very much about that.’
- Rob Luis (Tru Thoughts record label boss & DJ)
A quiet but joyful revolution is happening to clubbing. Brighton Sundae is a daytime party that happens at Patterns on the first Sunday of the month.
Set up by two local DJs Danny (Mr Dan) and Graham (D-Novo), it’s a daytime party – so you don’t need to stay up all night to dance! The party started in June 2024 and has run monthly since.
Danny and Graham’s vision was a cross between Gilles Peterson’s legendary Sunday afternoon parties at Dingwalls and the dance tent at festivals like Buddhafield, where people come to dance and let go. Being a dayime event, they both felt that Brighton Sundae had a unique opportunity to be inclusive and feel safe for a diverse mix of people. They sell kids’ tickets for 2 quid so that parents can come and dance with their kids, free disability carer tickets and ‘skint-friendly’ tickets for people on low incomes, so that the dance. This inclusive approach has helped them build a community of regular attendees and a reputation for the friendliest and most diverse dancefloor in Brighton.
It is now held upstairs at Patterns, by The Palace Pier. The terrace in the sunshine is lovely with its sea-views, and the music policy is eclectic, with a focus on funk, soul, dancefloor jazz, Latin grooves, Afrobeat and electronica. There are drinkers and non-drinkers alike, talented dancers strutting their stuff and a curation of brilliant DJs both from Brighton and out of town. It all makes for a joyful atmosphere - free, uninhibited and alive.
So far guest DJs have included local legends like Brighton Jazz Rooms founder Russ Dewberry and Rob Luis from Tru Thoughts, Worldwide FM’s Tina Edwards and rising stars like Daisha, Jo Dressler and Afrocat. Russ Dewberry got four generations dancing to Congo Natty’s drum n’ bass. Rob Luis felt safe enough to put his ten year old daughter in charge of the decks for a bit while he went to the toilet.
Come along for a great afternoon. It runs 2-8pm – there are great beers and non-alcoholic selections, tasty pizza if you get hungry, great music to dance to, and the best part is being home in time for an early night.
